Forensic Scientist

Forensic Scientist

LIsa Black

Cape Coral, FL

Female, 49

I spent the five happiest years of my life in a morgue. As a forensic scientist in the Cleveland coroner’s office I analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now I'm a certified latent print examiner and CSI for a police department in Florida. I also write a series of forensic suspense novels, turning the day job into fiction. My books have been translated into six languages.

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Last Answer on July 21, 2022

Best Rated

Can someone create false positive molestation forensic testing by wiping a week old rag with dried semen onto their child

Asked by Queen B almost 4 years ago

I suppose anything’s possible, but it depends on how well a dried stain is going to transfer to anything. usually a dense, dried liquid simply flakes off a surface. Someone could try wetting the rag but I honestly don’t know how well that would work or if at all. Also, whoever is collecting any evidence off that child would have to swab that exact spot. So I can’t say it’s impossible but I would guess it’s unlikely to work. Hope that helps!

What do you think is the worst case you have ever done. What’s the most gruesome, frustrating, or however you define it.

Asked by Mark about 5 years ago

Probably the most raw was a small plane crash.

What do you think of SHOCK treatment and victim impacts panels? Do you think they help people change or just throwing tax dollars at people who are unwilling to change

Asked by rob over 5 years ago

I live in a small, low-crime city so I have no experience with this.

I am in school for my a.s. in criminology because my school had no alternatives for forensics, I am now 2 semesters away from graduating with my a.s. and my school now has a crime scene technology a.s. degree. Should I change programs or continue?

Asked by Jozalyn almost 4 years ago

That’s a tough question. If you want to work crime scenes, then the cs tech major might be better. If you want to work in the lab, it might not be very important. I would advise you to call the forensic units at the agencies you’d like to apply to and ask their opinion. With either degree, they may more likely place more emphasis on whether the courses had a lot of hands-on experience, if you have any work experience in the field, labs, internships, etc. That’s how my agency would feel.

Best of luck to you!

Are your books related off of real cases you have done and of corse maybe a little more realistic then many other books that are out there?

Asked by AJ about 5 years ago

I try to make them realistic, but they’re not based on real cases. Except for Trail of Blood, which is partly about the unsolved Torso Murders in Cleveland in the 1930s.

Would it best to get a bachelors degree in Forensic behavioral sciences, or would an associates degree be ok? I dint mind spending the time and money on the bachelors but if an associates is the same then I'll go that route. Thank you for any info.

Asked by DarkBigFootfromTealJungle over 4 years ago

If you’re looking at behavioral psychology, I’m afraid I have no idea what job requirements would be. Try to find the websites of professional organizations, like American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and check their job vacancy postings for job requirements. I’m sure there must be national organizations of behavioral psychology as well, and they should be able to guide you. Best of luck to you.

What Are the Disadvantages of Forensic Scientists?

Asked by dadsfasdf over 4 years ago

I don’t know what you mean by this. What is the disadvantage of working as a forensic scientist? Or what are the disadvantages of the existence of forensic scientists? Or what factors work against you when trying to obtain helpful information from evidence?